An invitation to worship...
Proleptic Anticipation
November 7, 2025
Good Day College Church,
So when we gather to worship our Lord on Sunday (as we do), we will do what we do every Sunday.
We will bring an offering of praise in the songs we sing to our Lord. We will listen for a timely word from our Lord in the reading and preaching of the written Word. We will speak to the Lord ourselves, asking Him to do what only He can do. We will be invited to a meal that our Lord has prepared, and we will do all of this in fellowship with others, with those we love and with those who love us.
And in all this, we will experience the gracious presence of our Lord; in the singing, in the hearing, in the praying, in the eating and in the fellowship.
Theologians have a name for what happens when we do this. They call what happens “proleptic anticipation.” (Can I get an “Amen?”)
The reason I am mentioning this is because it is “proleptic anticipation” that makes our worship services meaningful. It is “proleptic anticipation” that brings us back week after week. Frankly, “proleptic anticipation” is the reason we worship.
So, what in the world is “proleptic anticipation?”
“Proleptic anticipation,” in short, is bringing the future promises of God into the present world. It is faith that is the proof of things not seen. It is hope so real, it’s as if what is hoped for has already arrived. It’s living so confident of the coming kingdom of heaven, that we live as if it is already here. It is a little bit of heaven come down to earth.
And that’s what happens when we worship our Lord on the day of His resurrection. When we unite our voices in praise to our Lord, when we listen for a word from our Lord, when we pray, when we eat at His table, and when we do this in communion with one another, we reveal the character and nature of the kingdom. We "proleptically anticipate" the coming kingdom. We experience the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
So it is no little thing that we do. By gathering in the Lord's name and in His presence, with the Lord's people, to sing and pray and listen and eat, we testify that the kingdom of heaven has already arrived.
See you Sunday. How could it not be a good day?!
Pastor Mark
IN ADDITION
During the worship service on Sunday, we will be receiving new members and recognizing the veterans in our congregation.
Good Day College Church,
So when we gather to worship our Lord on Sunday (as we do), we will do what we do every Sunday.
We will bring an offering of praise in the songs we sing to our Lord. We will listen for a timely word from our Lord in the reading and preaching of the written Word. We will speak to the Lord ourselves, asking Him to do what only He can do. We will be invited to a meal that our Lord has prepared, and we will do all of this in fellowship with others, with those we love and with those who love us.
And in all this, we will experience the gracious presence of our Lord; in the singing, in the hearing, in the praying, in the eating and in the fellowship.
Theologians have a name for what happens when we do this. They call what happens “proleptic anticipation.” (Can I get an “Amen?”)
The reason I am mentioning this is because it is “proleptic anticipation” that makes our worship services meaningful. It is “proleptic anticipation” that brings us back week after week. Frankly, “proleptic anticipation” is the reason we worship.
So, what in the world is “proleptic anticipation?”
“Proleptic anticipation,” in short, is bringing the future promises of God into the present world. It is faith that is the proof of things not seen. It is hope so real, it’s as if what is hoped for has already arrived. It’s living so confident of the coming kingdom of heaven, that we live as if it is already here. It is a little bit of heaven come down to earth.
And that’s what happens when we worship our Lord on the day of His resurrection. When we unite our voices in praise to our Lord, when we listen for a word from our Lord, when we pray, when we eat at His table, and when we do this in communion with one another, we reveal the character and nature of the kingdom. We "proleptically anticipate" the coming kingdom. We experience the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
So it is no little thing that we do. By gathering in the Lord's name and in His presence, with the Lord's people, to sing and pray and listen and eat, we testify that the kingdom of heaven has already arrived.
See you Sunday. How could it not be a good day?!
Pastor Mark
IN ADDITION
During the worship service on Sunday, we will be receiving new members and recognizing the veterans in our congregation.